Former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has been handed a six-match suspension following an altercation in which he spat at a Seattle Sounders staff member during Inter Miami’s 3-0 defeat in the Leagues Cup final.

The incident occurred after the final whistle, when a scuffle broke out between players and officials from both teams.

Suarez initially grabbed Seattle midfielder Obed Vargas by the neck, prompting teammate Sergio Busquets to strike the Mexican international on the chin.

Moments later, Suarez clashed with Sounders’ director of security, Gene Ramirez, before being restrained by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. In the heated exchange, Suarez spat directly at Ramirez.

The Leagues Cup disciplinary committee confirmed that Suárez’s ban will apply to next year’s competition, though Major League Soccer (MLS) reserves the right to impose additional sanctions.

Busquets and Tomas Avilés also received suspensions of two and three games, respectively, while Seattle staff member Steven Lenhart was handed a five-match ban.

In a post on Instagram, Suarez later issued an apology. However, the controversy adds to a long list of disciplinary issues that have overshadowed his career.

The 38-year-old has previously served bans for three separate biting incidents, including a 10-match suspension in 2013 for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and a nine-match international ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup.

In 2011, he was also suspended for eight games after racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

Inter Miami resumes MLS action on September 13, with a rematch against Seattle scheduled for September 16 in Florida.

With both Suarez and Busquets out of contract at the end of the season, there is uncertainty over whether they will ever serve their full suspensions.

While Suárez’s talent in front of goal is unquestionable, his repeated misconduct has long tested the patience of the footballing world.

Critics argue that lenient punishments have enabled his behaviour, undermining the integrity of the sport.

Many believe that football must finally draw the line, protecting the game’s values and ensuring accountability—something Suarez’s track record continues to challenge.